Harriet May Kirk

Harriet May Kirk, the daughter of Ralph and Audrey (Trailer) Curry, was born March 30. 1930, in Atlantic, Iowa and died October 12, 2023, at the Spencer Hospital in Spencer, Iowa at the age of 93 years, 6 months, and 12 days.

Harriet was baptized and confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. She attended rural school “Oakfield Academy”, east of Brayton, Iowa then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1948.

On November 7, 1948, Harriet was united in marriage to Norman Lee Kirk at the Exira Lutheran Church. They were blessed with two daughters, Debra and Pamela. They lived in Exira then moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, returned to Audubon, Iowa in 1956 and purchased the Skelly Service Station. Harriet was the bookkeeper but could be seen pumping gas while Norman washed the windshields and checked the oil. They sold the Skelly Station then purchased the Phillips Service Station in Brayton, Iowa, which they operated for a number of years. They moved to Red Oak, Iowa for a short time and then returned to Exira. During these years, Harriet helped Norman and raised the girls. While living in Exira, Harriet became the bookkeeper at Ray’s Feed Service in Exira, which later became Purina Mills in Audubon, where she was employed until she retired in 1995. During retirement, they enjoyed traveling to California to visit relatives. Norman died March 5, 2004. Harriet continued living in Exira for a few years before moving to Newell, Iowa to be close to her family.

Harriet was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church and a member of the Eastern Star in Exira. When they were younger, Harriet and Norman, loved to dance and traveled with friends to different venues on the weekends dancing the night away. She enjoyed bowling and was the Scorekeeper at the Exira High School Basketball games which led into her being a chaperone for a few years. Harriet loved watching sports, crocheting, and knitting. She enjoyed making special gifts for her family and friends. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many beautiful wedding dresses and brides-maid dresses. But above all, she cherished the time with her family.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Norman L. Kirk; her daughter, Pamela Nielsen; her grandson, Chris Nielsen; her parents, Ralph and Audrey Curry; her brother Jack, and wife Ferne Curry; and her sister Cathryn and husband Charles Christensen.

Survivors include her daughter Debbie and husband Thor Carlson of Leander, Texas; her son-in-law Randy Nielsen and special friend Debbie Davis of Newell, Iowa; her grandchildren, Charles and wife Amber Vail of Round Rock, Texas; Alicia and husband Reto Junker of Moosseedorf, Switzerland; Josh and wife Lindsey Nielsen of Newell, Iowa; her great grandchildren Emry Vail of Round Rock, Texas; Jessica Junker and Josh Junker both of Moosseedorf, Switzerland; Hanna and husband Logan Davis of Fonda, Iowa; Rilyn Nielsen of Alta, Iowa; and Rowyn Nielsen of Newell, Iowa; her great-great grandchildren Ember Davis and Iris Davis both of Fonda, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.